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EE 2G/3G/4G Discussion Thread (Part 2) |
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#3826 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 97
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Quote:
EE's coverage is definitely great around me. Mum's just driven me to Sheffield and back as I had to pick up something from my flat at uni. I was keeping an eye on Service Mode most of the way back and it was almost always 4G with the odd drop down to 3G and occasional loss of data due to a weak signal. I only saw EDGE once which was on the outskirts of Worksop on the way there and even then only briefly. I also saw a bit of Band 7 around Worksop again and improved coverage including Band 20 in an area that I'm sure was 2G only last time I checked.
I do wonder if EE plan to build more masts though. There are four places that I am aware of, the A57 south of Worksop, Ranby, the area near Retford Oaks and the area of Ordsall where my Grandparents live, where there are patches of weak coverage. The first two are well covered by Vodafone/O2 2G, 3G 4G and the Retford Oaks area is also better covered by O2. Are EE planning on building any more masts to boost coverage or are they relying solely on Band 20 now? I also had a quick look on the coverage map in the Ollerton area earlier today and was surprised to see how many masts there were 2G/3G or even 2G only. It goes to show that, as great as EE's coverage is, they still haven't finished and their network will continue to improve as more masts are upgraded. EE are definitely building new sites. The main focus at the moment should be enhanced rural coverage for ESN. |
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#3827 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Back of beyond
Posts: 1,928
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Quote:
Hi
EE are definitely building new sites. The main focus at the moment should be enhanced rural coverage for ESN. It's such a shame that when Orange was Orange it worked with 100% signal indoors and outdoors to make simple phone calls that never dropped out. Now in the same area my phone sometimes shows "EE" and sometimes" T Mobile" when standing in the same spot ---- the signal fluctuates wildly . A complaint to EE resulted in an engineer phoning me and stating that the system in that area had been optimized. Calls are unreliable and frequently fail which makes it expensive on Pay as You Go. I can stare at the mast that used to be Orange and suspect it is no longer so ,the signals are coming from elsewhere. That mast is a perfectly good site but nice to know they are building new ones maybe to serve this rural location. I won't hold my breath though.... Regards |
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#3828 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 871
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Good to know they are "building new sites".
It's such a shame that when Orange was Orange it worked with 100% signal indoors and outdoors to make simple phone calls that never dropped out. Now in the same area my phone sometimes shows "EE" and sometimes" T Mobile" when standing in the same spot ---- the signal fluctuates wildly . A complaint to EE resulted in an engineer phoning me and stating that the system in that area had been optimized. Calls are unreliable and frequently fail which makes it expensive on Pay as You Go. I can stare at the mast that used to be Orange and suspect it is no longer so ,the signals are coming from elsewhere. That mast is a perfectly good site but nice to know they are building new ones maybe to serve this rural location. I won't hold my breath though.... Regards |
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#3829 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 59
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Quote:
Good to know they are "building new sites".
It's such a shame that when Orange was Orange it worked with 100% signal indoors and outdoors to make simple phone calls that never dropped out. Now in the same area my phone sometimes shows "EE" and sometimes" T Mobile" when standing in the same spot ---- the signal fluctuates wildly . A complaint to EE resulted in an engineer phoning me and stating that the system in that area had been optimized. Calls are unreliable and frequently fail which makes it expensive on Pay as You Go. I can stare at the mast that used to be Orange and suspect it is no longer so ,the signals are coming from elsewhere. That mast is a perfectly good site but nice to know they are building new ones maybe to serve this rural location. I won't hold my breath though.... Regards I'm sure "optimized" used to refer to EE decommissioning masts (usually Orange masts that covered the same area as EE/T-Mobile masts). maybe one day they'll realize that indoor coverage needs to be improved, and will therefore re-activate the mast. Or maybe they won't... |
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#3830 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Back of beyond
Posts: 1,928
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Aah, I love that statement, "the system in the area had been optimized".
I'm sure "optimized" used to refer to EE decommissioning masts (usually Orange masts that covered the same area as EE/T-Mobile masts). maybe one day they'll realize that indoor coverage needs to be improved, and will therefore re-activate the mast. Or maybe they won't... A land line is out of the question --that's why we went for Orange . I'm testing home made passive reflector designs --- the use of an extender/amplifier would be too pricey. EE would supply a unit to work off the broadband but I don't think their prompt screen shows "no landline" !! Thanks ---- no planning applications for the area . Regards |
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#3831 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: This forum
Posts: 3,388
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Yes, a friend of mine in the next door town had the same problem; two tiny Orange masts that did 2G & 3G but max speed on 3G was around 3 megabit, were turned off after the merger. Outdoor signal from the much larger ex-Tmobile macro sites is still good, but indoor coverage was horrendous. Luckily WiFi calling on his iPhone worked to solve that one.
We don't know how much these masts cost to run, but some computer GIS system probably told head office that signal would be "similar" without the mast. What you could do is a network scan when you are indoors and see if any other network provides signal - my mate has discovered he could easily switch to Vodafone now since summer 2016 - but before then Orange was the only choice. Its a bit silly for EE as there are some houses in the same estate that sell for over £2m.... of whom they are probably all on Vodafone... (high spenders likely too!). |
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#3832 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 871
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With EE expecting 95% of phones on its network to be 4G and 50% of those 4G Calling compatible by September, when do we think the L1800 power can be increased to be nearer to G1800? What 4G Calling percentage are we looking at?
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#3833 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 466
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Boosters don't seem particularly expensive...
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nextivity-Ce...%257Ciid%253A8 |
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#3834 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Totnes, Devon
Posts: 6,683
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With EE expecting 95% of phones on its network to be 4G and 50% of those 4G Calling compatible by September, when do we think the L1800 power can be increased to be nearer to G1800? What 4G Calling percentage are we looking at?
I think it could also be to do with EE not wanting too many people making calls over 2G. No simultaneous voice and data, no HD etc.. Most people would still be calling over 3G anyway. Personally i think it will be before ESN kicks in since I think the ESN handsets will be 4G only.... I think... |
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#3835 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Totnes, Devon
Posts: 6,683
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Boosters don't seem particularly expensive...
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nextivity-Ce...%257Ciid%253A8 Decided against it. Suffered a few more years, then WiFi calling happened. |
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#3836 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Back of beyond
Posts: 1,928
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Quote:
Boosters don't seem particularly expensive...
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nextivity-Ce...%257Ciid%253A8 Regards |
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#3837 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,294
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Quote:
Boosters don't seem particularly expensive...
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nextivity-Ce...%257Ciid%253A8 |
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#3838 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 14,633
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I was told as well that there could be legal issues with these as it's technically rebroadcasting over licensed spectrum. but someone more in the know might know better.
They also automatically manage power/output to avoid feedback. It's not a dumb amplifier. Quote:
No good in my case ----- no landline or broadband at the location otherwise I would have had one for free.
Regards If you can get any coverage at all (like upstairs) then they typically work well. |
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#3839 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,294
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The nextivity ones should be legal IIRC - as they give the network operator control of power outputs and the ability to remotely shut it down. Back when they were new they advertised the fact that they were operator (and Ofcom) approved. Not sure if you are meant to report the installation to your network operator or Ofcom, though. I believe that in other countries like Australia that is a requirement.
They also automatically manage power/output to avoid feedback. It's not a dumb amplifier. Tbh they're needed in quite a few areas. I did some calcs when bored over the holiday period and suburban indoor coverage on EE averages about 85% (basically me bored with a map and pencil) |
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#3840 |
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: This forum
Posts: 3,388
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Ah that's interesting. Can see how that would be allowed, no wonder the prices are high they've got a monopoly on the market.
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Tbh they're needed in quite a few areas. I did some calcs when bored over the holiday period and suburban indoor coverage on EE averages about 85% (basically me bored with a map and pencil)
At £499 each, not many people bother. My mate had an old Tmobile version 1 I found on eBay for £99 a while back and it worked for about a year, but then started acting up; just as WiFi calling arrived. We threw it away in the end. Maybe EE deactivated it, whom knows.Ver 2 is what you see on ebay, but ver 3 or 4 is out now with some sort of LCD display! https://www.cel-fi.co.uk/ |
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#3841 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Back of beyond
Posts: 1,928
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No --- not spending anything like £499 thanks !!
Forgot to say ---- my phone is 2g --- it makes phone calls -nothing else, oh apart from sometimes taking pictures. The point is it worked perfectly before Orange became whoever they are now --- that's why I joined them in the first place . Better half has a Samsung Galaxy something and that drops calls just the same so getting a new phone isn't the answer . Vodaphone or any others are even worse ----- I love watching visitors to the area waving their phones around trying to get a signal . I hope BT don't remove the public call box --- but you even need a credit card for that ! Fortunately I can quite happily live without a phone when in that area --- it's just annoying that something that worked perfectly indoors and out no longer does. Hey ho --- bring back morse code ... Regards |
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#3842 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2,875
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No --- not spending anything like £499 thanks !!
Forgot to say ---- my phone is 2g --- it makes phone calls -nothing else, oh apart from sometimes taking pictures. The point is it worked perfectly before Orange became whoever they are now --- that's why I joined them in the first place . Better half has a Samsung Galaxy something and that drops calls just the same so getting a new phone isn't the answer . Vodaphone or any others are even worse ----- I love watching visitors to the area waving their phones around trying to get a signal . I hope BT don't remove the public call box --- but you even need a credit card for that ! Fortunately I can quite happily live without a phone when in that area --- it's just annoying that something that worked perfectly indoors and out no longer does. Hey ho --- bring back morse code ... Regards
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#3843 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Totnes, Devon
Posts: 6,683
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Everything was better in the old days wasn't it. Would love to hear your views on the EU. And the war. Tell us about the war.
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#3844 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,528
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Quote:
...
Forgot to say ---- my phone is 2g --- it makes phone calls -nothing else, oh apart from sometimes taking pictures. ... Better half has a Samsung Galaxy something and that drops calls just the same so getting a new phone isn't the answer Of course, it's no doubt frustrating for some that EE shutting down the smaller ex-Orange masts in favour of the larger T-Mobile masts has caused a regression in indoor signal quality in a few cases - thus meaning that otherwise perfectly good phones have stopped working as well as they once did. On the flip side, the economies achieved by this shutdown will no doubt be contributing toward building out the network in rural areas previously devoid of coverage & improving capacity in cities where the average data used per customer isn't exactly falling... |
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#3845 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Back of beyond
Posts: 1,928
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Quote:
Everything was better in the old days wasn't it. Would love to hear your views on the EU. And the war. Tell us about the war. ]
My father could have --- he was in the Merchant Navy and was torpedoed 3 times on the Atlantic convoys . Shame I never spent more time taking to him in my youth as my only reaction then was "that was careless". blueacid . Thanks for the reply --- reading here about VoLTE sounds like people have problems with it or are constantly messing with phone settings. The chances of getting a signal on 800mhz is nil --- even TV signals from the high power transmitter didn't/don't make it . Anyway --- back to my passive antenna construction . Regards. |
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#3846 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,294
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What? I can't tell you anything about the war ---- before my time -- just.
My father could have --- he was in the Merchant Navy and was torpedoed 3 times on the Atlantic convoys . Shame I never spent more time taking to him in my youth as my only reaction then was "that was careless". blueacid . Thanks for the reply --- reading here about VoLTE sounds like people have problems with it or are constantly messing with phone settings. The chances of getting a signal on 800mhz is nil --- even TV signals from the high power transmitter didn't/don't make it . Anyway --- back to my passive antenna construction . Regards. |
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#3847 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Back of beyond
Posts: 1,928
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Don't think you quite know what you're on about.
After Orange was taken over the coverage in the same area is unreliable with my phone sometimes showing "EE" sometimes "T-Mobile". So--- as I don't quite know what I'm talking about I'll step aside and report back if anything improves. Have a good life . Regards |
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#3848 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2,875
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I think we scared the user off!
![]() I think it's the fact you're using anecdotal experience to say the entire EE network is rubbish and worse than it was... |
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#3849 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Back of beyond
Posts: 1,928
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I think we scared the user off! :
I think it's the fact you're using anecdotal experience to say the entire EE network is rubbish and worse than it was... The same mobile phone works perfectly at my home and in my car ---- it simply doesn't work at a property and inside other buildings in an area where it used to when Orange was Orange . Read my posts and you will understand --- maybe .. Regards |
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#3850 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 466
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Quote:
No --- not spending anything like £499 thanks !!
EE supply them and they are fully licence compliant. I have not heard of one being deactivated as I do not believe they connect to the network, but instead relay your SIM info (they are really rather simple affairs). They do need to be set for the correct network ID (they can only realy one) but this can be changed as described by someone else. I've also used them for work and they have the advantage/disadvantage over Internet based ones of not requiring SIMs to be pre-registered, so any phone just works. The other alternative for signal is what Cheshire Bumpkin has setup, an external directional antenna pointing at a mast providing Internet which you then use to support WiFi calling. |
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